Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has selected H55 S.A. the Swiss based company developing electric propulsion and battery systems, to provide the battery pack for the company’s regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program.
As the technological spin-off of Solar Impulse, the first electric airplane to fly around the world, the mission of H55, is to make aviation clean, safe, and affordable. The company’s strengths and competencies lie in developing propulsion and energy storage solutions which are modular, lightweight, and certifiable. Having integrated and flown 4 electric airplanes, this announcement is a further illustration of H55’s position as a major enabler in the electric commuter market.
The participation of H55 in the hybrid-electric demonstrator program follows P&WC‘s July 2021 announced plans of investing $163 CAD million, with the support of the governments of Quebec and Canada, towards developing this sustainable propulsion technology. Collins Aerospace and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada are key technology collaborators in the demonstrator project. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) and the Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI) are also supporting the development of some of the component designs and electrical control systems for the project.
“Our goal has always been to target regional commuter transportation and with P&WC, there is a perfect fit whereby our core technologies complement each other,” said André Borschberg, H55’s Co-founder and Executive Chairman. “Both companies share the same vision as to how hybrid-electric propulsion can offer a range of environmental and economic benefits. Having been selected by P&WC is an important validation that our experience is valued by a reputable industry player. We are excited to be working in Quebec with P&WC and several other industry and research collaborators in bringing our battery pack to the hybrid-electric demonstrator program”.
“Having been selected by P&WC is an important validation that our experience is valued by a reputable industry player.”
Hybrid-electric propulsion technology is a core element of Pratt & Whitney’s strategy for continually advancing the efficiency of aircraft propulsion systems, in support of the industry-wide goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions for aviation by 2050. The company is also developing technologies to support greater use of cleaner, alternative fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and hydrogen, each of which will benefit from the increased efficiencies enabled by hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
A planned flight demonstration in 2024
Ground testing of the propulsion technology will already start this year, with a planned flight demonstration in 2024. A 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and commensurate reduction in CO2 emissions is targeted, compared to today’s most advanced turboprop engines for regional aircraft.
H55 is the leading enabler for electric aviation with the mission of making air transport quiet, clean, and affordable. The core of H55’s product offering includes a lightweight, modular, and certifiable energy storage and management system. H55 also offers a full electric propulsion system which encompasses the battery packs together with the motor, motor controller, pilot interface, and power controls. H55 will receive its type certificate by EASA for its 100-kW electric propulsion by the end of 2023.
Source : Press Release H55
Photo credit : H55